Deeside Hospital ward due to reopen in three months

A HOSPITAL ward which has been closed for months due to staff shortages will reopen in the next 12 weeks, health bosses said.

Representatives from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) said the Gladstone Ward at Deeside Community Hospital would be fully reopened by September.

The ward was closed earlier this year, with BCUHB stating staffing pressures led to the closure, caused in part by restrictions on staff duties while an ongoing investigation into standards of care was carried out.

John Falcus, the health board’s site operations manager, said it had been a “very difficult period” since the ward was closed in January.

But officials added the opportunity was being taken to renew the flooring and carry out other necessary refurbishment work which could not be carried out while the area was in use.

At a meeting of Flintshire Council’s social and health care overview and scrutiny committee, representatives assured councillors they were working to restore the hospital’s capacity to its previous levels.

John Darlington, assistant director of planning for the health board, said: “The importance of Deeside Hospital isn’t lost on any of us.

“We see it as an important part of provision in North Wales. There are currently no intentions to downgrade the hospital.”

Mr Falcus added: “An additional eight beds were opened in Deeside Hospital by May and we hope to get more staff in by September.

“It will take a little bit of time to get the rest of the ward open.

“There has been a significant improvement in a range of measures that we put in place to measure the quality of service.

“It’s been a very difficult period but we think there are now real signs of improvement at Deeside Hospital and we think that’s sustainable.”